Another spring in Pittsburgh, another unresolved quarterback storyline.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are still waiting for Aaron Rodgers to decide whether he plans to play next season, and as the NFL Draft gets closer, the lack of clarity is beginning to ripple through the organization.
For a franchise that has long prided itself on stability at quarterback, the situation feels unusually uncertain. And now one of the most respected voices in the team’s history believes the Steelers should stop waiting.
Rod Woodson, the Hall of Fame defensive back who spent 10 seasons with Pittsburgh, recently questioned the team’s patience while appearing on The Rich Eisen Show.
His message was simple: the Steelers cannot keep building their offseason around a decision that has not yet been made.
Woodson did not hide his frustration with the ongoing speculation surrounding Rodgers.
“What is it with these ex-Green Bay Packer quarterbacks that they have to be talked about all the time?” Woodson said during the interview.
“If he’s going to play, say he’s going to play. The team shouldn’t wait for Aaron Rodgers. They need to move forward.”
Steelers still waiting for Rodgers decision
The uncertainty has been hanging over Pittsburgh for months.
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Rodgers was expected to inform the Steelers of his decision before the draft, possibly by the end of the month. Until that happens, Pittsburgh technically enters the offseason without a confirmed QB1.
Behind the scenes, however, some of the team’s moves suggest optimism that the veteran quarterback might return.
The Steelers recently strengthened their offense by acquiring wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., pairing him with DK Metcalf to create a much more dangerous receiving group.
Those types of roster moves usually signal a team preparing to compete immediately, not one preparing for a long quarterback rebuild.
Rodgers has also remained in contact with head coach Mike McCarthy, the coach who worked with him for years in Green Bay and helped guide the Packers to victory in Super Bowl XLV. According to NFL Network insiders Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo, the two have spoken multiple times about the possibility of another season.
Still, conversations are not the same as a decision.
And that lingering pause is starting to reshape the conversation around Pittsburgh’s future.
The draft decision that still raises questions
Woodson believes the Steelers might already be feeling the consequences of a decision made last year.
During the 2025 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh held the No. 21 overall pick and had been widely connected to quarterback Jaxson Dart throughout the pre-draft process.
Instead, the Steelers selected defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.
Just a few picks later, the New York Giants traded up to No. 25 and drafted Dart.
The rookie eventually took over as the Giants’ starter in Week 4 and showed flashes of why teams were intrigued by him coming out of college. By the end of the 2025 season, Dart had posted 2,272 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions across 14 games, finishing with a 91.7 passer rating, according to Pro Football Reference.
For critics of Pittsburgh’s draft strategy, those numbers only amplify the question of what might have been.
Former NFL defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko echoed that sentiment earlier in the year, suggesting the Steelers could have drafted Dart and allowed him to develop behind a future Hall of Fame quarterback.
That approach has worked before. Several franchises have used veteran quarterbacks as mentors for younger prospects while quietly preparing for the next era.
Draft pressure builds as Steelers seek stability
All of this places even more weight on the upcoming draft.
The Steelers again hold the No. 21 pick in the first round, a position that could give them access to another quarterback prospect such as Alabama’s Ty Simpson or a rising name in the class.
Whether Pittsburgh pursues that path may depend heavily on Rodgers’ decision.
If the veteran quarterback commits to another season, the team could focus on strengthening the roster around him. If he steps away, the pressure to identify the franchise’s next quarterback will increase dramatically.
For now, the Steelers remain in a familiar holding pattern.
The organization built its reputation on consistency at the most important position in football. This offseason has shown just how quickly that certainty can fade.
Reporting and comments referenced in this article come from The Rich Eisen Show, NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo, as well as reporting from The Athletic. Statistical data referenced from Pro Football Reference.
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